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Original poster

Removals company or family and a van?

62 replies

SomeLikeItChilliHot · 21/04/2014 02:22

Argghh! DH changes his mind every 5 minutes and is driving me insane!

Had x2 quotes for removals, both about £750 including VAT (and, according to one quote, includes "4 experienced and strong men" Grin). The packing service was £350 for one quote, £500 for the other. I enquired about that as I work nights over the weekend and can't get time off for the move, have 3 DC and DH works long hours during the week. DH is insisting that we will be able to pack our 4 bed house and garage in a day. I have argued against this for 2 weeks!

Now DH has also decided that 3 of his male relatives could come and help us move if we paid them a £100 each and hired a van. I see his logic, I really do, but I remember how it took 3 hours one Sunday afternoon for the same relatives to help us get 2 wardrobes upstairs. I just think removals companies are quicker and more experienced.

So just wondering if anyone else has done all the packing and moving themselves, how it went and would you do it again?

TIA Thanks

OP posts:
KeatsiePie · 21/04/2014 03:11

If you can afford it, go for the packers and movers!!

My worst experience of DIY moving: helpful friends pulled the couch up to balcony of second-floor apartment on ropes and ladder. B/c they were not experienced in doing so, they decided to balance the couch on its back on top of the ladder. Naturally the ladder went through the back of the couch. Couch was so new I was not even done paying for it. Of course could not say anything as they were doing it for free and it was an accident. And of course that meant there was no insurance to pay for reupholstering. Went in bathroom and cried Sad

Less horrible but still aggravating experiences included DH throwing his back out, which meant that I spent four hours dragging all the heavy stuff down a flight of stairs alone in the middle of the night and then could not lift any of it into the truck.

There was also the time that DH got the moving truck stuck between two rows of parked cars in lower Manhattan, like really wedged in and scraping the sides of the cars, during rush hour. A lot of people were yelling at us. I thought he was going to have a breakdown.

Frankly, I have mixed luck with moving and have had terrible packers/movers as well as good ones. The good ones are totally worth the money. The bad ones .... well, I had a mover throw a box of heirloom china onto the ground with full force b/c he was annoyed that the hallway was narrow. That mover also stole a stereo. So vet carefully Grin

AlpacaLypse · 21/04/2014 03:21

DP is a removals man. There is no way on god's earth we are doing it ourselves again! You need to be free to deal with things like last minute gazundering attempts and reading meters and checking the old place is clean and making sure the new place doesn't have prawns stuffed down the backs of radiators.

Personal recommendation is by far the best way to find a reliable removals company.

We'll quote for you if you're in Wiltshire and promise you don't have a piano Smile

imme · 21/04/2014 03:33

I have moved a lot and I would say hire a company any time! It always turns out to be much more than you think and I cannot really see that much saving in you DIY solution. Removals company do it for a living so they are experienced,quick and efficient.

tattychicken · 21/04/2014 04:12

Removals company. Do the packing yourself to save money, you can start this early and reduce what you need in the house to a bare minimum for the last few days.

In the hubbub of moving, 6 months pregnant with 2 young DC's in tow, our removal guys were the calm port in the storm. They were professional, in control and unflustered. Unlike me. And they did things like took the beds and cots apart in the old house and put them back up in the new house, so we knew we would at least be able to get the children to bed and get a reasonable nights sleep ourselves. Money well spent.

Roshbegosh · 21/04/2014 05:10

It is all stressful enough as it is so use professional movers.

If you pack yourself it will take forever, you will run out of boxes and bubble wrap, things will get broken and you will be completely exhausted before you get to you new place. It will take way longer than you expect and you will need energy to sort things out and unpack later.

A flat or small house with plenty of time on your hands, maybe. A four bed with a garage, no chance.

cathpip · 21/04/2014 05:56

After doing both I will ALWAYS pay for packers and movers, they are so worth the money and you will still be married and dh alive at the end of the day :)

Tealady1983 · 21/04/2014 07:25

We just moved from a flat to a house. I packed myself but paid movers it was all done in 3 hours well and truly worth the money Smile

addictedtosugar · 21/04/2014 07:36

Movers every time. Packed ourselves pre kids. Suspect i'd pay to pack if we move again.

ClimbingHillsBarefoot · 21/04/2014 07:39

We always move ourselves, but we pack gradually over a couple of months, have g'parents at both houses, a group of well organised and efficient friends, I'm happy to drive huge vans, and we pay every one in curry and beer on moving night.

In your situation I would get removal company in. Either pay professionals or call in family help for free.

Original poster
SomeLikeItChilliHot · 21/04/2014 08:07

Wow thanks everyone for your replies. I'll show them to DH later.

We're in Sussex though and do have a piano, thanks for the offer! Smile

Keatsiepie- I felt your pain reading your reply. Yes, if a friend or relative is helping you out and drops and destroys something, what can you say? That's what worries me, especially with our 160 litre fishtank! And getting stuck inbetween two rows of cars, I would have drowned in my own panicked sweat! You have definately had some bad experiences Sad

Oo please keep the advice coming, really enjoyed reading them Smile

OP posts:
AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 21/04/2014 08:12

We moved a few months ago.

Get the packers! It's cheaper than divorce. Wink

And we spent £400 on boxes and bubble wrap anyway. (V expensive if you have to go and buy more last minute because you underestimated how much you need)

CMOTDibbler · 21/04/2014 08:15

Movers and packers. Every time.

ARightOldPickle · 21/04/2014 08:18

We have always paid for removers, but done the packing ourselves. I start early and gradually get to a point where only essential stuff is left for the last few days. I actually quite enjoy it though - I feel in control of something at a time when most stuff is in the hands of others - control freak here!
We've helped several family and friends move themselves and it has done absolutely nothing to convince me that it's something we should do next time we move! Good removers can look at a piece of furniture and a staircase or doorway and immediately see how to do it, rather than umpteen attempts which result in scraped furniture, scuffed paintwork and frayed tempersGrin

Original poster
SomeLikeItChilliHot · 21/04/2014 08:20

We will move in 2 weekends most likely (date not set yet). Should I be spending this week starting on the packing?

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 21/04/2014 08:20

We moved once using dh's van and friends, but it was from a flat to first house and we didn't advent many things that were expensive/precious. We also had the flat 3 days after we purchased our house so could take our time.

In your circumstances I would definitely use removal services.

Shock at PAYING family £100 each to help you move!!

LiveInABox · 21/04/2014 08:21

We've done it both ways. GET THE PACKERS IN! Worth every single penny! On move day, we nipped out for a coffee and breakfast while they got to work, when we came back the house was empty. It made moving day exciting and a great memory rather than stressful!

Fairylea · 21/04/2014 08:21

If you have the money to do it always have movers and packers. I've never had the money and always hired a van ourselves and packed everything and I always start about 4 weeks before we intend to move as it takes me so long!

LiveInABox · 21/04/2014 08:24

If you're getting packers in, you don't have to pack anything! So the next two weeks until you move can be spent living your life as normal instead of spending every night with a roll of bubble wrap! Ours came the day before to pack everything and they are absolute experts at it. All you need to pack are the kettle, some cups, and anything you wouldn't want them to see (vibrator anyone?).

LiveInABox · 21/04/2014 08:25

PS If you move in 2 weeks you need to get a company booked pretty sharpish I'd suggest...

MaryShelley · 21/04/2014 08:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flossiechops · 21/04/2014 08:35

Don't even consider doing it yourself, honestly it will be a stressful nightmare. It's bad enough anyway with professional movers yet alone without. Our move is impending and we have been quoted £1200 for a full packing service and move - having had the same on the last move it is worth every single penny.

SolomanDaisy · 21/04/2014 08:40

Professionals and get the packing service. Madness to try anything else in your situation.

patothechiefexec · 21/04/2014 08:48

Without doubt use a removal company and if you can afford it packers.

There is no way on god's earth I would try to do it ourselves. We had four removal men sweating their bits off and they do the job day in day out.

Original poster
SomeLikeItChilliHot · 21/04/2014 09:38

Flossiechops- what area do you live in and how big is your house? Did you have many quotes? DH thinks £1200 total for both packing and moving is too expensive.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 21/04/2014 10:05

We had removers, I did all the packing. I wasn't working and there were no small children about. We are relatively minimal...or so I thought...

it took 2 weeks to pack, plus time to acquire the boxes and materials from freecycle. Do not underestimate how long it takes to pack up china and kitchen stuff. Books have to fill their boxes but the boxes can't be too big or it is all too heavy - so many boxes. Mirrors and pictures need to be carefully wrapped. Taking the dining table apart was fun. Need to be very organised to make sure you know which screws belong to what.

garden shed contents and plant pots went ahead (to other people's sheds). This took time and separate car trips - all hail our late lamented big estate car.

if you pack yourself, you won't be insured for breakages.

Everything survived but do NOT underestimate the work involved. No, you will not pack in a day! The removal firm can do it quickly but there will be more than one person.